Playoffs begin for Owen High School

Owen High athletes will wrap up their high school careers when they graduate in less than a month.

The spring sports regular season came to a close May 4 when the softball team handed visiting Reynolds a 2-1 loss in extra innings. The win capped a 13-5 season for the Warlassies, who finished 10-2 in Western Highlands Conference play.

The Warlassies’ performance this season earned them a number 12 seed in the state playoffs, where they will host Salisbury in the first round.

Warhorse baseball finished the season 11-11 overall with 7-5 conference record. The team qualified for the playoffs for the 17th straight season under head coach Anthony Lee. With a number 28 seed the Warhorses will face Wilkes Central High School in the opening round.

The Warlassies soccer team qualified for a number 31 seed in the playoffs and will go on the road to face number 2 Newton-Conover in the first round.

Five members of the Owen track & field team qualified for the western regional playoffs, held at Polk High School on Friday, March 13. Junior Anissa Avila, who also starts in center field for the Warlassies, qualified for the 100- and 200-meter, as well as the long jump. Freshman Chesney Gardner qualified in the shot put and discus events.

The boys track & field team was represented by Garret Welsh in the 1600 and 3200 meter races and Brandon Kilgo in 200. Jacob Robinson qualified for the high jump, long jump and triple jump.

The Owen golf team failed to qualify for the state tournament as a team, shooting a 340 at Maggie Valley Country Club in the western regional tournament. But Garrett Miller shot an 80, earning a spot in the opening round of the state tournament in Pinehurst as an individual player.